Mishkan
The Continuous Flame on the Altar and in Our Hearts
The altar in the Tabernacle was, of course, for burning the sacrifices, but the Torah commanded that the fire be kept burning constantly, night and day, regardless of whether or not there was a sacrifice to burn. The Jerusalem Talmud...
The Accounting of the Materials Used for the Tabernacle: a Precedent for Honest Business Dealings
The Tabernacle and all its components required large amounts of costly materials so, after its construction, Moses gave an accounting of materials that had been used (Exodus 38:21). This required that in addition to being a prophet,...
Why Are the Details of the Tabernacle Repeated?
After describing the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle in great detail, the Torah then repeats these details, describing the same elements after the Tabernacle has been erected. Of course, the Tabernacle is the place for...
The Tabernacle: Giving From the Heart
The Torah describes how the Children of Israel brought so many voluntary offerings for the construction of the Tabernacle that Moses called a stop to donations. The people gave so enthusiastically that there was enough for the...
Why We Read About the Silver Half-Shekel Before the Month of Adar
Shabbat Shekalim is the last Shabbat preceding the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar*, or the 1st of Adar itself if the month begins on Shabbat. In synagogues, the Torah portion describing the bringing of the silver half-shekel is...
The 39 Acts Forbidden on the Sabbath
After the instructions for the Tabernacle are given and right before the actual construction of the Tabernacle begins, Moses gives an incongruous message commanding the Jews to rest on Shabbat (Exodus 35:1-3). In no fewer than 12 places,...
The Message of the Eternal Flame
When God instructs the Children of Israel to make the menorah, He tells them to gather oil "for kindling lamps regularly"Â (Exodus 27:20). Rashi explains that the light was to be lit all night, every night, though not necessarily during...
Why Was Aaron Chosen to be the High Preist?
When Aaron and his sons were anointed in order to begin serving in the Tabernacle, it transformed their descendants for all time, establishing them as Kohanim (priests) and the only people to perform the Temple service. It should be...
The Artist Behind the Construction of the Tabernacle
Even though no man ever came as close to God as Moses, when it came time to construct the Tabernacle, God assigned the task to Bezalel (meaning "in the shadow [i.e. the protection] of God") the son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the...
The Incense Altar: Linking the Physical and the Spiritual
After instructing the Children of Israel about the priestly garments, God then describes the golden altar for offering incense. Similar to the Ark of the Covenant, the altar for the incense was made of acacia wood covered in gold. Rings...
